File follower locking assembly

ABSTRACT

A file follower locking assembly selectively locks and releases a follower plate behind the files in a drawer by using two opposed follower guides with eccentric cam grippers to engage upper and lower surfaces of open wall channels formed in the drawer sides. In a first mode of operation, the cam grippers provide a firm gripping engagement with the upper and lower surfaces. The grippers are released for sliding movement of the assembly along the drawer in a second mode of operation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to assemblies and components used tosupport the contents of a drawer, as in a desk or other office furniturecabinet, and more particularly to a file follower locking assembly whichuse a cam action gripping arrangement for releasably locking a filefollower at a desired location. The invention provides a simple, buteffective manner of securing files in place while at the same timepermitting ready adjustment of the depth of the drawer opening in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of file follower arrangements in one or more drawers offurniture components in an office environment provides convenientsupport of various papers, files, and other contents of the drawer.Typically, a follower plate or compressor is held in place transversethe drawer opening in abutting engagement with the contents of thedrawer. The follower plate in these arrangements is typically adjustablein a longitudinal direction along the drawer opening to permit thenumber of files in the various classifications to be varied, whilemaintaining the remaining files in desired upright positions. Thispermits more efficient use of the cabinet space.

Numerous file follower arrangements have been previously proposed in theart. However, the installation and maintenance requirements of thesearrangements have posed practical difficulties. Principle among thesedifficulties is the complexity of the locking mechanisms utilized sothat the follower may be releasably retained at the desired locationwithin the drawer opening. For example, various file follower lockingarrangements have been proposed which utilize a locking bar extendingthe width-wise dimension of the drawer proximate to the file follower.The locking bar is moved to actuate or deactuate locking mechanismsdisposed in the sides of the drawer. While these arrangements workadequately for their intended purpose, they are typically unattractiveand awkward, requiring an inordinate amount of interactive mechanicalparts. They are therefore susceptible to breakdown or failure overextended periods of time.

Other attempts have been made in this field which utilize multiplelocking piece assemblies wherein multiple camming or locking pieces aredisposed in the side channels of a file drawer for locking or unlockingthe file follower. As with the locking bar arrangements, however, thesetypes of locking assemblies also suffer from the afore-noted problems.

Still other approaches for other applications, such as for card trays,have utilized disc-like cams to lock card tray followers and therebyretain quantities of cards in place. One example of this approach isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,109,432. This arrangement, however, failsto address the problems of retaining files within a drawer space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provideimproved file organization in a furniture unit. More specifically, it isan object of the present invention to provide a novel mode forreleasably interlocking a file follower within a drawer opening of anoffice furniture component.

It is another object of the invention to provide a file followerassembly useful in an office furniture component which is quite simplein construction while at the same time effectively interlocking a filefollower in operation.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a filefollower locking assembly that may be easily actuated or deactuated, yetwhich provides a high degree of durability and reliability.

These and other additional objects are accomplished in a file followerlocking assembly particularly useful in a drawer of a desk or in anotherfurniture component in an office environment. The file follower lockingassembly of the present invention selectively locks and releases afollower plate behind the files in a drawer by using eccentric camgrippers disposed within open wall channels in the drawer sides.Structurally, a file follower locking assembly comprises a followerplate and two opposed follower guides disposed at the lateral edges ofthe follower plate. Each follower guide includes a support or camportion projecting into a respective open wall channel on the side ofthe drawer. Each support portion is formed with an elliptical grooveconfiguration having an apex region and a nadir region. These regionsare located along a major transverse axis of the elliptical shape,substantially parallel to the plane of the follower plate. Theelliptical groove is sized to receive an O-ring gripper member thatprotrudes outwardly from the support portion to provide firm grippingengagement with upper and lower surfaces of the open wall channel whenthe follower plate is oriented in an upright position in a locked mode.The gripper member is shifted to a lesser vertical diameter exposure toeffect release of the O-ring gripper from the upper and lower surfacesof the open wall channel for sliding movement when the assembly isrotated to an unlocked mode.

In the preferred embodiment, each of the follower guides includes acontrol pin spaced from the support portion that also projects into thewall channel to provide a limit stop. This prevents undue rotation ofthe assembly through the locked or beyond the unlocked position. In thisway, the follower is locked by a tilting cam action arrangement for griplocking the follower in a fixed position longitudinally of the drawerwhen the follower plate is vertical, and which releases for easy slidingmovement of the assembly along the drawer when the follower plate istilted to the unlocked position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a file follower assembly according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a follower guide and follower plateincluded in the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the file follower assembly of FIG. 1,looking toward the other side, illustrating connection between afollower guide and follower plate in greater detail.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the follower guide and follower plateof FIGS. 1-2 in a first or locked mode of operation.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the follower guide and followerplate of FIGS. 1-2 in a second or unlocked mode of operation enablingready movement of the follower guide.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are exploded views of the follower plate and O-ringgripper according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description will permit a more completeunderstanding of this invention. However, the embodiments describedbelow are simply examples of the invention and the invention is notlimited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the drawings are notnecessarily to scale. In certain instances, details have been omittedwhich are not necessary for an understanding of the invention.Generally, the present invention relates to a file follower lockingassembly that selectively locks and releases a follower plate behind thefiles in a drawer by using opposed follower guides having an eccentriccam grippers for engaging upper and lower surfaces of open wall channelsformed in the drawer sides. The file follower assembly is intended to beused in the drawers of desk units or other office furniture componentswhere the contents of the drawer are frequently changed or reconfigured.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of adrawer 8 of a desk unit (not shown) using a file follower lockingassembly 10 of the present invention, looking generally from the reartoward the front (user's access end) of the drawer. While a preferredembodiment of the locking assembly is described hereinafter inconjunction with a desk drawer, it should be understood that thisassembly can also be incorporated into other cabinet spaces withappropriate modification. The desk drawer 8 provides a drawer spacedefined by first and second lateral side panels 12 and 14, a bottompanel 15 and front and rear panels (not shown). In FIG. 1, the rearpanel would be nearer the viewer and the front panel would be beyond theplaner of the page. The side panels 12 and 14 are each provided withU-shaped channels or rails 16 and 18 extending longitudinally along therespective side panels of the drawer 8 and open to the interior of thedrawer. The channels 16 and 18 are each defined by substantiallyparallel upper and lower guide surfaces 16a, 16b and 18a, 18b,respectively, defined by the leg portions of the U. As described ingreater detail below, a cam gripping arrangement according to thepresent invention engages the upper and lower guide surfaces 16a, 16band 18a, 18b, respectively, in a locked mode to firmly retain the filefollower locking assembly in place. In an unlocked mode, the lockingassembly 10 can be readily moved forwardly and rearwardly within thedrawer space.

FIG. 1, and also FIGS. 2-3, illustrate the details of the lockingassembly 10. The present invention, in its preferred embodiment,contemplates a file follower plate 20 and a complementary pair ofopposed follower guides 22 and 24. The follower plate 20 is preferablyof molded plastic generally planar frame construction and includesforwardly and rearwardly facing surfaces 20a and 20b, lower and upperedges 20c and 20d, and side edges 26 and 28. The side edge ribs 26 and28 are adjacent but spaced inwardly from the drawer sides 12 and 14 suchthat the follower plate 20 extends substantially across the transversedimension of the drawer space. The follower plate of the preferredembodiment is shown in a grill or lattice configuration comprised ofvertically and transversely extending ribs 29. It should be understood,however, that the follower plate 20 could be any other configurationincluding a solid sheet so long as the structural integrity of thefollower plate is sufficient to support the materials of the drawer. Inthe preferred embodiment, the forwardly facing side surface 20a of thefollower plate 20 is relatively flat which will engage the files to besecured by the follower assembly. The rearwardly facing side surface 20bprovides exposed portions 30 for ready finger engagement andmanipulation of the follower plate 20 to effect rotation of the lockingassembly, as described below.

FIG. 1 further illustrates the complementary pair of opposed followerguide pieces 22 and 24 attached to the lateral edges 26 and 28,respectively, of the follower plate 20. The opposed follower guides 22and 24 are mirror images of each other. Accordingly, to facilitatedescription of the invention, the left hand follower guide 22 will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4-5 and the right hand guide 24will be described with reference to FIG. 3, where like elements will beemployed with like numerals. As described below, the opposed followerguides 22 and 24 each include a cam gripping arrangement to permitrotation from a first inoperative or locked mode to a second operativemode to permit sliding of the file follower locking assembly within therails 16 and 18 respectively.

The main structural details of the left hand follower guide 22, asviewed from FIG. 1 are best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4-5. As illustratedtherein, the follower guide 22 is an irregular octagonal piecefabricated of plastic by injection molding in the preferred embodiment.The follower guide 22 has an enlarged body portion 36 and a leg portion38 depending therefrom. It preferably includes structural ribs 40extending along the leg portion 38.

FIGS. 2 through 5 also show a follower guide support stud or cam portion42 projecting outwardly from the body portion 36. The follower guidesupport 42 has a generally elliptical outer periphery, which includesupper and lower peripheral segments 46a and 46b and a pair of sideperipheral segments 48a and 48b. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, support42 extends into the respective channel 16 such that the supportsubstantially occupies the channel space between the upper and lowerguide surfaces 16a and 16b. Likewise, the support 42 is of sufficientthickness to support the follower assembly within the channel 16. Theupper and lower peripheral segments 46a and 46b have a tapered outerperiphery in relation to the side peripheral segments 48a and 48b suchthat the distance between the outermost peripheral segments 46a and 46bis less than the distance between the upper and lower guide surfaces 16aand 16b. Thus, the support portion 42 may be rotated within the sidechannel 16 to thereby rotate the locking assembly about an axis ofrotation 42a without engagement of the upper and lower peripheralsegments with the channel guide surfaces.

An annular groove 50 is formed in the follower guide support portion 42having an elliptical configuration that defines an apex region 52 and anadir region 54 along the major axis 56 of the ellipse. The annulargroove 50 is sized to receive an O-ring gripping member 58 which engagesthe upper and lower guide surfaces 16a and 16b, as described below. TheO-ring gripping member 50 is preferably fabricated of rubber or othermaterial which provides suitable resiliency and friction characteristicsfor firm gripping action when in firm contacting relation with the guidesurfaces 16a and 16b. As seen in FIGS. 4-5, the O-ring gripping member58 protrudes from the outer periphery of the upper and lower segments46a and 46b to provide upper and lower engagement surfaces 58a and 58b.The distance between the upper and lower engagement surfaces 52 and 54exceeds the distance between the upper and lower guide surfaces 16a and16b.

FIGS. 2 and 4-5 also illustrate a control pin or stud 44 spaced from thefollower guide support 42. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 the control pin44 also projects into the side channel 16 of the drawer 8. The controlpin 44 has an axis 45 that is offset a selected distance from thefollower guide cam axis 42a. Thus, when the assembly is rotated aboutthe follower guide cam axis 42a, the control pin 44 abuts the upper orlower guide surface to prevent undue rotation of the file followerlocking assembly both beyond a locked position, which is generallyvertical, and beyond a predetermined tilted unlocked position.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the opposed follower guide 34illustrating connection to the follower plate 20. The side of thefollower guide opposite the follower guide cam element 42 includes achannel 60 defined by opposed L-shaped rails 62 and 64 (see FIG. 8). Therails include spaced nubs 66 extending inwardly which form flanges toengage the follower plate edge rib 28. The follower plate 20 isslideably engaged within the channel 60 and preferably includes ashoulder 68 to limit mating engagement travel of the follower plate 20into the follower guide 24. Likewise, follower guide 22 is located onthe opposed side edge 26 in exactly the same manner.

The operation of the follower guide assembly 10 is best seen withreference to FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the follower plate 20and guide 32 assume a substantially vertical position when in a first orlocked mode. In this mode, the follower guide support 42 is rotatedabout cam axis 42a such that the upper and lower engagement surfaces 52and 54 of the O-ring gripper 50 engage the upper and lower guidesurfaces 16a and 16b in firm compressive wedging friction engagement tointerlock the assembly and thereby prevent movement of the followerlongitudinally of the drawer. The control pin 44 prevents undue rotationof the assembly 10 in the locked mode.

The contents of the drawer apply force against the forwardly facing sidesurface 20a of follower plate 20 generally below the cam axis 42a in adirection toward the rear of the drawer 8. Accordingly, such forces tendto retain the follower guide assembly 10 in the locked mode and theO-ring gripper 50 in friction engagement with the upper and lower guidesurfaces 16a and 16b. The opposed follower guide 24 operates in exactlythe same manner.

FIG. 5 illustrates the follower plate 20 and follower plate guide 32rotated about cam axis 42a to an unlocked or second mode. In this mode,a force is applied against the forwardly facing side surface 20a offollower plate 20 generally above the cam axis 42a in a direction towardthe rear of the drawer 8 such that the upper and lower engagementsurfaces 52 and 54 are disengaged from the upper and lower guide surface16a and 16b. Likewise, the control pin 44 engages the upper guidesurface 16a to prevent over rotation of the assembly. In this mode, thefollower guide assembly 10 may be readily moved longitudinally withinthe drawer space.

The upper edge of the top rib of the follower plate 20 also may serve asa support for one end of file hangers, the other end of which may besupported by other structure.

In the preferred embodiment as illustrated, each of the guides 22, 24and the follower plate 20 is a single molding. The support stud portions42 and stud pins 44 are unitary with the body portion of each guide, asare the respective mounting rails 62 and 64. Further, the follower plateand the guide may be assembled simply by slide mating of the side ribsinto the respective rails of the guides. Addition of the O-ringscompletes the assembly. While the use of O-rings presently is preferred,it will be appreciated that by selection of appropriate materials andconfigurations of the support portions, other friction pads or surfacesmay be used.

Various advantages flow readily from the above described file followerlocking design. For example, the locking assembly represents asubstantial cost savings, using relatively few mechanical parts. Inaddition, the locking assembly is relatively simple to fabricate andinstall, while being reliable in operation.

As set forth above, an file follower locking assembly has beendescribed. Various modifications as would be apparent to one of ordinaryskilled in the art and familiar with the teaching of this applicationare deemed to be within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, theprecise scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims,which are made, by reference, a part of this disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A file follower locking assembly for use in acabinet drawer with opposed sides defining a longitudinal drawer space,comprising, in combination:a side channel extending at an intermediateheight along each of said sides in communication with said drawer spaceand each side channel including parallel upper and lower inner surfaces;a follower plate for substantially spanning said drawer between saidopposed sides for supporting materials in said drawer; a first followerguide coupled with said follower plate and including a support elementfor projecting into one of said channels of the drawer, said supportelement being of a configuration and size to permit sliding movementthereof along said one of said channels to permit tilting of saidfollower plate and guide between first and second angular positionsabout a lateral axis, and gripper means mounted on said support elementand disposed to present opposed external peripheral engagement surfaceportions spaced from one another by a first distance which exceeds thespacing between said upper and lower inner surfaces of said channel,said opposed peripheral engagement surface portions being positioned onsaid support element for locking engagement with said upper and lowerinner surfaces of said channel in said first angular position to retainsaid follower in a fixed position in said drawer and to be free of saidinner surfaces to permit sliding of said follower plate and lockingassembly along said drawer in said second angular position.
 2. Theinvention as in claim 1 including a gripping member circumscribing saidsupport element, portions of said gripping member comprising saidgripper means.
 3. The invention as in claim 1 wherein said supportelement is of a non-circular section and includes a gripping membercircumscribing said support element, portions of said gripping membercomprising said gripper means.
 4. The invention as in claim 1 whereinsaid support element is of a non-circular cross section having a majortransverse axis, and including a gripping member circumscribing saidsupport element, portions of said gripping member traversing said majoraxis comprising said gripper means.
 5. The invention as in claim 1wherein said support element is a generally cylindrical stud formed withan annular groove providing an oval cross-section, and an O-ringdisposed in said groove with portions at the ends of the oval comprisingsaid gripper means.
 6. The invention as in claim 1 wherein said firstfollower guide includes a second support element spaced from theaforementioned support element for also projecting into said one of saidchannels for limiting the tilting movement of said follower guide andthe follower plate coupled thereto.
 7. The invention as in claim 1 andincluding a second follower guide corresponding to said first followerguide, said follower guides being coupled to opposite sides of saidfollower plate and whereby the respective support element on each guidewill project into the channels in the respective adjacent sides of saiddrawer.
 8. The invention as in claim 1 wherein said follower plateincludes an end rib and said follower guide defines a channel havingsliding mating engagement with said rib for coupling said follower guideto said follower plate.
 9. The invention as in claim 8 wherein saidfollower guide includes a body portion and opposed flange sectionsextending from said body portion and defining said channel therewith forengaging said ribs.
 10. The invention as in claim 9 wherein each of saidfollower guides is formed of molded plastic.
 11. A file follower lockingassembly for use in a cabinet drawer with opposed sides defining alongitudinal drawer space, comprising in combination:a side channelextending at an intermediate height along each of said sides incommunication with said drawer space and each side channel includingparallel upper and lower inner surfaces; a follower plate forsubstantially spanning said drawer between said opposed sides forsupporting materials in said drawer, said follower plate including a ribalong each side thereof; a pair of follower guides each defining achannel for sliding mating engagement with one of said ribs to join eachof said pair of guides to said plate and including a support element forprojecting into one of said side channels of the drawer, said supportelement being of a configuration and size to permit sliding movementthereof along said respective side channel.
 12. The invention as inclaim 11 wherein said support element is of a configuration to permittilting of said follower plate and guide between first and secondangular positions about a lateral axis, and gripper means mounted onsaid support element and disposed to present opposed external peripheralengagement surface portions spaced from one another by a first distancewhich exceeds the spacing between said upper and lower surfaces, saidopposed peripheral engagement surface portions being positioned on saidsupport element for locking engagement with said upper and lower innersurfaces of the respective side channel of said drawer in said firstangular position to retain said follower in a fixed position in saiddrawer and to be free of said surfaces to permit sliding of saidfollower plate and locking assembly along said drawer in said secondangular position.
 13. The invention as in claim 12 wherein said supportelement further has opposed peripheral portions immediately adjacentsaid gripper means and offset therefrom in the same angular directionalong the periphery of said support element, said further opposedperipheral portions being spaced from one another by a second distancewhich is less than said spacing between said upper and lower innersurfaces of said side channels of said drawer.
 14. The invention as inclaim 13 wherein said follower plate and said pair of follower guidesare tiltable about a lateral axis which extends through each saidsupport element.
 15. The invention as in claim 14 wherein said filefollower locking assembly is mounted in a drawer in an orientation suchthat forces applied against said follower plate below each said supportelement and in a direction toward the rear of said drawer tend to tiltsaid follower plate and guides coupled thereto from said second angularposition toward said first angular position for locking said assemblyagainst sliding movement, and forces applied to the top of said followerplate in a direction toward the rear of said drawer tend to tilt saidfollower from said first angular position toward said second angularposition to permit sliding movement of said assembly along said drawer.16. A file follower locking assembly for use in a cabinet drawer withopposed sides defining a longitudinal drawer space, comprising incombination:a side channel extending at an intermediate height alongeach of said sides in communication with said drawer space and each sidechannel including parallel upper and lower inner surfaces; a followerplate for substantially spanning said drawer between said opposed sidesfor supporting materials in said drawer; a first follower guide coupledwith said follower plate and including a support element for projectinginto one of said channels of the drawer, said support element being agenerally cylindrical stud formed with an annular groove providing anoval cross-section, and an O-ring disposed in said groove, said supportelement permits tilting of said follower plate and guide between firstand second angular positions about a lateral axis; and opposed externalperipheral engagement surface portions at the ends of the oval spacedfrom one another by a first distance which exceeds the spacing betweensaid upper and lower inner surfaces, said opposed peripheral engagementsurface portions being positioned on said support element for lockingengagement with said upper and lower inner surfaces in said firstangular position to retain said follower in a fixed position in saiddrawer and to be free of said inner surfaces to permit sliding of saidfollower plate and locking assembly along said drawer in said secondangular position.
 17. A cabinet drawer with opposed sides defining alongitudinal drawer space, including in combination:a side channelextending at an intermediate height along each of said sides incommunication with said drawer space and each side channel includingparallel upper and lower inner surfaces; a follower plate forsubstantially spanning said drawer between said opposed sides forsupporting materials in said drawer; a first follower guide coupled withsaid follower plate and including a support element for projecting intoone of said channels of the drawer, said support element being of aconfiguration and size to permit sliding movement thereof along said oneof said channels to permit tilting of said follower plate and guidebetween first and second angular positions about a lateral axis, andgripper means mounted on said support element and disposed to presentopposed external peripheral engagement surface portions spaced from oneanother by a first distance which exceeds the spacing between said upperand lower inner surfaces, said opposed peripheral engagement surfaceportions being positioned on said support element for locking engagementwith said upper and lower inner surfaces in said first angular positionto retain said follower in a fixed position in said drawer and to befree of said inner surfaces to permit sliding of said follower plate andguide along said drawer in said second angular position.